Director General of the European Space Agency

The Director General is the Chief Executive Officer and the Legal Representative of the European Space Agency.

In accordance with the Convention of the Agency and the directives issued by the ESA Council, the Director General guides and oversees the evolution of ESA’s role and programmes in support of Europe’s governments and the needs of European society with respect to space. They are accountable for the implementation of Agency policies and the execution of its programmes in a manner that is both supportive of European industrial competitiveness and consistent with the highest standards of effectiveness and efficiency. The Director General exercises strong leadership over ESA activities, provides clear internal directions to its workforce and ensures their continued motivation. They conduct ESA activities with the aim of achieving the full potential of European space capability for the benefit of all participants, taking due account of the needs of the Member States.

The Director General exercises policy-related as well as managerial functions and to this end:

• elaborates and implements a long-term European space policy and recommends space objectives to the Agency’s Member States;

• prepares the programmes and plans for the attainment of the approved objectives;

• elaborates and implements the contractual policy appropriate to the Agency’s programmes;

• elaborates and recommends a coherent industrial policy to the Member States;

• directs the preparation of the ESA budgets, initiates the necessary trade-offs and recommends the consolidated budget to Council;

• maintains an effective organisation and ensures appropriate staffing, also paying special attention to diversity aspects;

• ensures that adequate plans, procedures and controls are employed by Directorates and Establishments to enable the proper execution of their responsibilities and attainment of their objectives;

• directs and reviews the ongoing activities of the Agency; assesses the progress of programmes and other activities and reports on technical, schedule and financial status to the ESA Council;

• further develops appropriate relations with the European Union;

• maintains relations with a large number of non-member States, cooperating States and international organisations;

• cooperates with States and organisations that are building up space programmes;

• has responsibility for signing all legal instruments on behalf of the Agency.

In the execution of these functions, the Director General of the Agency is assisted by Directors with responsibilities in the various scientific, technical and administrative fields.

Most ESA staff work at its main Establishments and Centres, in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

The Agency’s annual budget is approved by the Member States for its mandatory activities (science, technology, etc.) In addition to these, many of the Agency’s major programmes are optional and Member States contribute according to the extent of their involvement in them. The Agency’s annual budget, including third party activities, has been close to €6 billion over the last 5 years.

The Director General will have international experience in one or more of the following areas: political, technical, scientific, economic, administrative. They will have occupied top-level posts in public, semi-public or private organisations. Experience in space-related matters would be highly desirable and a good knowledge of the European Union role in space matters is also an asset.

Steering the Agency to respond to Europe’s changing needs in space demands vision and the ability to operate at a political and strategic level, as well as qualities of management and leadership of the highest order. To be the prime interlocutor for governmental, institutional and private-sector leaders and international partners also requires highly developed communication and representational skills.

Leadership at this level and the responsibility involved in managing public funds, together with the scope of project development envisaged, calls for someone of outstanding caliber and of the greatest personal integrity.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. An excellent knowledge of one of these two languages is required together with a good working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of another Member State language is an asset.

Applicants must be eligible for security clearance by their national security administration.

A support of the candidature by a Member State delegation will be an asset.

Applications for this post in the form of a cover letter and CV should be addressed, no later than 31 August 2020, to the Head of the Human Resources Department at the following apply button